Consider the context for this delay. Aereo, which streams content from over-the-air TV networks' content, is fighting for its life against big broadcasters such as ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC for distributing these networks feeds' over the Internet without permission or compensation. The TV networks claim that Aereo violates copyright laws; Aereo counters that it captures over-the-air signals by assigning using an innumerable number of dime-sized reception antennas. This makes Aereo's reception and time-delayed playback nothing more than a cloud-based version of a personal VCR/DVR--and using a personal VCR/DVR has already been ruled legal by the Supreme Court. (There is a great deal of debate as to whether Aereo's antenna technology--which is central to its defense--actually works.)

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Aereo's legality in a week or so. If the court goes against Aereo, the decision will effectively preserve the current broadcast/pay-TV landscape as is, allowing the networks to keep counting on locked-in cable/satellite TV rebroadcast revenues. But if Aereo wins, the ruling could shake up the broadcast industry.

If Aereo does lose, the OTT video service "probably will not be able to continue," key Aereo investor Barry Diller said to Bloomberg TV. As a TV veteran who spearheaded the creation of Fox TV--and who approved broadcasting The Simpsons--Diller knows exactly how high the stakes are.

So maybe the delay in rolling out Aereo's Chromecast service does have to do with nothing more than "a few kinks." But the company could be forgiven for stalling while the Supreme Court decides its fate.